Veteran iPhone or iPad users will quickly discover that the Contacts, Calendar, and Reminders apps that come bundled with iOS 9 have the same core functionality as before. However, the Notes app is packed with new features and tools that are useful for note taking, gathering information from a variety of sources, and then organizing and sharing your digital notes.

The Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, and Notes apps continue to be fully compatible with iCloud, which makes synchronizing your app-related data a straightforward process. Plus, from any computer or mobile device that’s connected to the Internet, it’s possible to access the online versions of these apps, which are automatically populated with all of your most current app-specific data.

Plus, in Notification Center, the Calendar and Reminders apps can easily be set up so alerts, alarms, and notifications related to your schedule and lists are consistently displayed as part of the Today screen.

NOTE

The features and functions offered by the Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, and Notes apps are virtually identical on all iOS mobile devices, as well as on the Mac. However, due to varying screen sizes, the location of specific command icons, options, and menus often varies. After you get to know how each app works in general, you can easily switch between the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and/or the iCloud.com online-based versions of these apps without confusion.

Sync App-Specific Data with Online-Based Apps

To sync your Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, and/or Notes data with Yahoo!, Google, or Microsoft Exchange–compatible software, launch Settings and tap on the Mail, Contacts, Calendars option. Under the Accounts heading, tap on Add Account. Choose which type of account you want to sync data with, such as iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Google, Yahoo!, AOL, or Outlook.com. Tap on the Other option if you use alternate contact management and/or scheduling software that supports the industry-standard LDAP or CardDAV protocols.

When prompted, enter your name, email address, password, and an account description (as well as any other requested information). After your account is verified, a menu screen in Settings related to that account lists app-specific options, such as Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, and/or Notes. Turn on the virtual switch associated with any or all of these options. Your iPhone or iPad can automatically and continuously sync your app-specific data on your iOS device with your online-based account. So, if you turn on the virtual switch associated with Calendars, for example, your schedule data is continuously synchronized.

To sync scheduling and/or contact-related data with Facebook, launch Settings and tap on the Facebook option. When prompted, enter your Facebook username and password. Then, near the bottom of the Facebook menu screen in Settings, turn on the virtual switch that’s associated with Calendars and/or Contacts.

Periodically tap on the Update All Contacts option as you add new online Facebook friends. Calendar and/or Contacts data is imported from Facebook and incorporated into your Calendar and/or Contacts apps. This includes profile pictures of your online friends who also have an entry in your Contacts database.